Delaware: Hearing on House Bill 35 Scheduled for Wednesday

Your Action Needed NOW!

On March 7^th, the latest of Governor Jack Markell’s gun control proposals was filed as House Bill 35.  HB 35 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee where it was scheduled to be heard on March 13.  Due to the overwhelming opposition to HB 35 in Dover two days ago, this committee will hold another hearing next Wednesday, March 20, at 11:30 am in Legislative Hall.  There will be a sign-up sheet for those who wish to testify and speaking time will be limited to two minutes per person. Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee IMMEDIATELY and attend this hearing to speak against HB 35.  If you are unable to attend and wish to submit testimony before this committee hearing, you may do so by e-mailing it to Chairman Representative Rebecca Walker at [email protected], faxing it to (302) 739.2313 or mailing it to Legislative Hall, c/o Rep. Rebecca Walker, Post Office Box 1401, Dover, Delaware 19903.

Thank you to all who showed up in Dover on Wednesday in opposition to HB 35!  Your presence made the difference!  We need you to return there on Wednesday, March 20.

HB 35 would criminalize virtually all private transfers of firearms by requiring that a criminal history background check be performed in connection with the sale or transfer of all firearms.  Background checks (subject to fees) would be performed by licensed firearms dealers, who would be required to maintain records of such background checks in accordance with state and federal law. Anyone violating this provision would be guilty of a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class G felony for any subsequent offense.

While there might be limited exceptions -- make no mistake -- this measure is the first step toward the criminalization of all private firearm transfers.  This system can only be enforced with gun registration.  And, as we know from experiences in California, Australia and Great Britain, gun registration enables gun confiscation—only from honest citizens—since criminals don’t register their guns or submit to criminal investigations for firearms acquisition or transfers.

Your presence is needed in Dover at this hearing to speak against these ineffective measures, so please attend on Wednesday!  It is critical that you contact House Judiciary Committee members IMMEDIATELY and urge them to OPPOSE HB 35. Contact information is provided below.

According to an internal U.S. Department of Justice memorandum, "universal" background checks will not work without requiring gun registration.  Read the memo and get the facts here.

House Judiciary Committee:

Representative Rebecca Walker (D-9) (Chairman)

(302) 744-4351

[email protected]

Representative Melanie George Smith (D-5) (Vice-Chairman)

(302) 744-4126

[email protected]

Representative Gerald L. Brady (D-4)

(302) 744-4351

[email protected]

Representative James Johnson (D-16)

(302) 744-4351

[email protected]

Representative John L. Mitchell Jr. (D-13)

(302) 744-4351

[email protected]

Representative W. Charles Paradee (D-29)

(302) 744-4033

[email protected]

Representative Charles Potter Jr. (D-1)

(302) 744-4351

Representative Darryl M. Scott (D-31)

(302) 744-4351

[email protected]

Representative Stephen T. Smyk (R-20)

(302) 744-4321

[email protected]

Representative Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (R-11)

(302) 744-4171

[email protected]

[email protected]

Representative David L. Wilson (R-35)

(302) 744-4150

[email protected]